God orchestrates encounters that break through social, cultural, and religious barriers, showing that His grace is for all people. In Acts 10, God gives visions to both Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and Peter, a Jewish apostle, to bring them together despite centuries of animosity and division. These visions were not just about food laws, but about God’s desire to unite people who would otherwise never speak to each other. The Spirit’s leading overcomes prejudice and fear, inviting us to see others as God sees them—worthy of love and inclusion. [04:10]
Acts 10:9-16 (ESV)
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Reflection: Who is someone you’ve kept at a distance because of differences—cultural, political, or personal? How might God be inviting you to reach out and build a bridge today?
God’s love and acceptance are not limited by nationality, background, or status; He welcomes all who seek Him and do what is right. Peter’s realization at Cornelius’s house is a turning point: he confesses that God does not show favoritism but accepts people from every nation. This truth shatters the boundaries of “us” and “them,” reminding us that God’s grace is radically inclusive and available to everyone who turns to Him in faith. [09:29]
Acts 10:34-35 (ESV)
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
Reflection: Is there a group or type of person you’ve unconsciously believed is less worthy of God’s love? What would it look like to pray for them and seek to understand their story this week?
True faith in Jesus is marked by the visible work of the Holy Spirit, producing transformation and fruit that others can see. When Cornelius and his household believed, the Holy Spirit came upon them, astonishing the Jewish believers who witnessed it. This outpouring was undeniable evidence that God was at work beyond their expectations. In our lives, the Spirit’s presence should be evident in our character, actions, and love for others, setting us apart in a world that often values division over unity. [11:49]
Acts 10:44-48 (ESV)
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you long to see more evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work? How can you invite God to grow His fruit in you today?
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly overturns human boundaries and prejudices, welcoming those once excluded into His family. The stories of Ruth the Moabite, Job from Uz, the African eunuch, and the Good Samaritan all challenge the “us versus them” mentality. God’s Spirit moves His people from exclusion to welcome, from condemnation to affirmation, reminding us that His love is always reaching further than we expect. [21:38]
Deuteronomy 23:3 (ESV)
“No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever.”
Reflection: Can you recall a time when God surprised you by working through someone you least expected? How might you open your heart to see God’s image in those you’ve overlooked?
God’s grace, love, and salvation are available to all people, regardless of background, identity, or past. No one is beyond the reach of God’s transforming love. Whether you feel like an outsider or have excluded others, the invitation is the same: put your faith in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance and gifts. As a community, we are called to reflect this radical welcome, becoming known for our love and openness to all. [23:10]
Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What step can you take this week to make your home, workplace, or church a place where all people experience God’s welcome and love?
Acts chapter 10 tells the story of two men—Peter, a devout Jew and leader among the early Christians, and Cornelius, a Roman centurion—who are brought together by God through a pair of extraordinary visions. Cornelius, though a Gentile and part of the occupying Roman force, is described as devout and generous, and he receives a vision instructing him to seek out Peter. Meanwhile, Peter, while praying, experiences a vision of a sheet filled with animals considered unclean by Jewish law, and hears God’s voice telling him not to call impure what God has made clean. This vision challenges Peter’s deeply held convictions and centuries of tradition, pushing him to reconsider who is included in God’s family.
When Peter and Cornelius finally meet, Peter acknowledges the social and religious barriers that should have kept them apart, but also recognizes that God is doing something new. He proclaims that God does not show favoritism but accepts people from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. As Peter shares the story of Jesus, the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius and his household, confirming that God’s grace and salvation are available to all, regardless of background or identity.
This story is not just about ancient history; it’s a living challenge to examine our own boundaries and prejudices. The early church struggled with the radical inclusivity of the gospel, and so do we. The question is posed: Who do we see as beyond God’s grace? Personal stories are shared about wrestling with the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in the life of the church, and how witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives has led to a change of heart and mind. The Bible itself contains stories where God’s grace breaks through human boundaries—Ruth the Moabite, Job from Uz, the African eunuch, and the Good Samaritan—reminding us that God’s love is always wider than we imagine.
The invitation is clear: God’s grace, love, and salvation are for all people. We are called to be a community that reflects this radical welcome, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us and to bear fruit that others can see. The challenge is to let go of our prejudices, to recognize the evidence of God’s work in unexpected people, and to become a church known for love and inclusion.
Acts 10:1-48 (ESV) — (You may want to read the whole chapter together, or focus on these key sections: verses 1-23, 28-48)
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